Quilt As You Go, Simply Done

Simply Done

Finish Any Quilt

Ricki’s Finished Quilts

by

Check out these cuties by Ricki Cohn! Here’s the note she so generously sent, along with pics of her quilts:

Just finished my 6th quilt using your quilt as you go method, along with other quilt as you go techniques, including making a reversible quilt. Thanks! You were the inspiration for getting me started on this relatively new hobby.

Here are some of my latest endeavors:

Owl quilt
I quilted the squares first with wavy lines, then learned how to applique using freezer paper and starch for the pieces of the owls. The back does have the outline of the owl and wings, but I used Sulky thread in the color of the backing, and it looks fine.

My 2-sided quilt…

Below is a baby quilt for my niece’s baby. I added the yellow borders that I quilted first to the 4 squares that were extras from a larger crazy quilt that ended up too big for a crib. The yellow and brown quilts are the back and front of the same quilt!

Ricki

Owls

Yellow

Brown

CSQ

Curves By Jean

by

Jean Knapp send me these photos of her Drunkard’s Path quilt blocks that she put together using quilt-as-you-go, isn’t it gorgeous? There are a lot of patterns and tutorials for doing curved piecing, and I believe there are even templates for making the Drunkard’s Path block. Here she combined 4 blocks and then quilted and joined them using the same methods we use in all of our books.

Thank you Jean for sharing your quilt and your adaptations!

IMG_0236a

Curvesphoto1

Lori’s Modern Log Cabin

by

This is a quilt after my own heart! The combination of modern fabrics and styling with the traditional Log Cabin block, brought together with quilt-as-you-go techniques, in colors that just sing!

Lori sent this to me a while ago and I somehow misplaced it as I was preparing for my drive down the AlCan in September.

Take a good look at the pic – can you see the different quilting she did on each block? Check out the heart in the lower left, the pink square. This is just fantastic!! I actually didn’t think it would be possible to use quilt-as-you-go on a Log Cabin and Lori proved that it can be done, and stunningly at that! Thank you Lori 🙂

Here’s her note

Hi Marguerita,

I bought your book, “How to Finish Almost Any Quilt” and just finshed a crib sized quilt using your instructions. I’ll be donating it to my local “Bags of Love” chapter.

I love to recycle things and and the quilt is about 50% recycled cloth. (In this quilt, I used mostly recycled medical “scrubs”)

Attached is a pic.

Can’t wait to start the next quilt!

quilt-small-3

Kim’s Quilt and Custom Table

by

Kim sent me a pic of her very first quilt-as-you-go quilt, and her custom sewing table! What a great way to start the new year – a really happy email from a comfortable quilter!

She sent this note:

I just wanted to share my very first ‘quilt as you go’ quilt. I could have never made this Queen Size without your technique! I purchased your book about a year ago and just never had the nerve to try it. This quilt is for a close set of friends. The husband asked me to make it as a surprise for his wife for Christmas. I panicked when he picked out that pattern! The pattern was for a full size and their bed is a queen. And the pattern had an error with a cutting measurement. And I purchased every bit of the blue on the bolt- and had only a tiny scrap left! So it was a little rough start 🙁 But, now I’m glad he picked that one out. I will definitely feel more comfortable next time knowing that I can use your wonderful technique!

And, please keep the You Tube videos coming- I love my table! My mother helped me sew a slip cover for it. And the thread video was amazing! A design wall is next!

Thank you again-
Sincerely, Kim

photo-2a

photo-5a

Linda Patzer Teaches Quilt-As-You-Go

by

Linda is a quilt teacher at The Sewing Studio in Normal, Illinois. She sent me this pic of her student Sandy’s quilt, which they adapted to be quilt-as-you-go.

This one was made by Sandy Way. The quilt block is a drunkards path. Sandy is a new quilter but has sewing clothes and home dec for many years. She recently retired from teaching. I am so proud!

Turtles

I love that Linda is teaching how to adapt a patterns her students like, to make them quilt-as-you-go. That is what my book Finish (almost) Any Quilt is about. You can read more about the book here – or buy it on Amazon here.

Click to see Pam’s finished quilt. She’s another one of Linda’s students!

Marilyn’s Finished Quilt

by

Oh, I’m in LOVE!

Marilyn (from the UK) sent me this photo of her quilt and the message below:

057a

Dear Marguerita,

I bought your book Crazy Shortcut Quilts some time ago, and I love it. I have made several quilts using the ideas in it. I now also have your other books Quilt as you go (Reimagined) and Finish almost any quilt (the day before yesterday was my birthday!), and can’t wait to get going.

However, about two years ago after learning your techniques for quilt as you go, I made the quilt in the attached photo. I used a basic block pattern that I saw in a magazine, and adapted the sashing to your methods. I am pleased with it, and recently I posted a photo on a Ravelry forum, and several people there said how much they liked it. As you will see, it is simple, but I think simple quilts can be the most effective sometimes. I hope that you like it.

I found the pattern in a magazine I bought some time ago, called Quilt Mania (no 60). As far as I can judge the magazine is French, although the version I have is in English. All it says about the design I based my quilt on is that it is called “Aussie”, comes straight from Australia, and is a Patchwork Studio design. Their version is not “quilt as you go” of course, I adapted that bit as I said before.

I have no idea where I bought the magazine – sorry! and it is quite old, I think 2007.

Marilyn

First of all, I love the big squares of fabric – it really lets the fabric be the center focus of the quilt (green – my favorite colour!). Second, I love, love, love the dropped shadow effect that the black fabric makes. Most of all, I love that Marilyn figured out how to adapt a pattern she liked to make it quilt-as-you-go. THAT is what the book Finish (almost) Any Quilt is about. You can read more about the book here – or buy it on Amazon here.

Hurray Marilyn and thank you for sharing your gorgeous quilt!!

Pam’s Finished Quilt!

by

Quilt Teacher Linda Patzer, of The Sewing Studio in Normal, Illinois, taught a Finish (almost) Any Quilt class a few months ago and she just sent me this pic of her student Pam’s quilt, along with this note from Pam

“Hi Linda
I finished my quilt on Tuesday evening and showed it to the Knot a Stitch Quilt group this AM.
Thank you for teaching this fun technique. I am looking forward to taking your Christmas tree skirt class.
Pam”

FAQ-Student-Pam-Riss2

Whooooo Hooooooooooo! Pam, and teacher Linda, get a BIG GOLD STAR for being finishers!! Linda is still teaching the class and if you are anywhere in the Normal/Bloomington area of Illinois, be sure to stop in The Sewing Studio and check out the store and her classes!

Lori’s Quilt

by

Lori sent me this message and a short video!

My sister had her 40th birthday party on Saturday in Pennsylvania. I couldn’t be there, but her good friend shot the video for me. I did free hand quilting on each block, writing in meaningful words and images. (Names of childhood pets, favorite teachers, etc). I am including a clip that shows her reaction after looking over the quilt. I had no particular pattern or plan…other than your book telling me how to finish any quilt. I had to make peace with my imperfections (I am a brand new quilter) and remind myself not to stress. In the end, it was Forever a lesson for me…it was perfect….crooked seams, puckers and all!!

Quilting has come to my life at a perfect time for me and your videos gave me the courage to jump in! I have my sewing room set up with Costco tables, styrofoam insulation and vinyl sheets!! I love it!

Lori Z

Click to watch —-> QuiltGift


Cutting Fabric for a New Quilt

by

Hi Quilters, I was giving a trunk show a couple of weeks ago and the topic of fabric cutting came up. So, when I started cutting my fabric for a new quilt I thought I’d video it and share the process that I use for cutting my binding and all of my joining-sashing strips from the same length of fabric and, most importantly, why I do it this way. It’s a little on the long side but I hope it has a few tips that might help you.